Alright here’s the thing.
Never in my life did I think I would start a blog. Partly because I don’t generally feel the need to write down my thoughts, but mostly because I had this idea that people who start blogs are middle aged women with five kids who want to share their ideas about gardening or parenting or lasagna. And while that might still be true to some extent, and I may be offending the blogging mothers of the world, I’m also learning that things aren’t always what they seem. I thought that loving Jesus—like really actually loving Jesus—meant your life consisted of chaperoned board game nights, or being personally offended by cuss words, or carrying around your engraved bible case. But wow I was so wrong.
One night I woke up in a hospital bed covered in my own vomit with an I.V. in my arm and no recollection of how I got there. I had scrapes and bruises all over my body and I was missing my shoes. My college roommate, who I had known for less than a week, informed me that I drank too much and my parents knew everything and I was at risk of getting kicked out of my school before classes even started. This was when I knew something in my life wasn’t working for me. My constant desire to chase after the affirmation of others led me to make decisions that just weren’t like me, like downing half of that bottle of Green Apple Smirnoff.
The Lord broke me into pieces and wrecked my whole world to show me just how warped my perspective of living a life for him was. The Lord showed me that I belong. I know who I am because my identity rests in who He calls me to be. I am a daughter of the most high king. You see, Jesus actually isn’t a buzzkill. Being a Christian doesn’t have to mean living a sheltered life. It really should mean the opposite. It means getting absolutely wrecked by the crazy unconditional love of God. It means living with a genuine sense of joy that is unmatched by anything in this world. It means a joy that is constant because it is rooted in a God that is constant.
The Lord doesn’t change, but he changes everything. (!!!)
I have a list on my phone. On that list are things that never fail to make me smile, things like driving with the windows down, sunsets that are orange and pink and yellow, walking barefoot, kids with curly hair, Sunday afternoons—all small things and moments that seem to make life worth living. But as I’ve grown in my relationship with the Lord, I’ve come to realize something more. It all means nothing without Him. All of those small things that bring me joy are temporary. They are things that won’t be around forever.
This is why I am stoked out of my mind to have this opportunity to truly and fully rely on Him. I want to see the Lord in the unexpected. I want to see how the love of Jesus can sustain people who have nothing. I want to see the spirit of the Lord reach the unreached. Because this truth has radically changed my life and I need to see it change the lives of others too. I’m sick of playing it safe. It’s a truth that is too great for me to sit around and keep to myself.
About the World Race: In this eleven month long trip I will be traveling to eleven different countries. My specific route is called the expedition route. This is a little different than a typical World Race route because it is specifically targeting areas that other people won’t go to reach the unreached. These places include China, Nepal, India, Ethiopia, Oman, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, and Mongolia. My group will mainly be focused on discipleship, service work and evangelism.
